A petty thief will spend the next two years in prison after he was nabbed and convicted for stealing a cellular phone at knife point.
When appearing before Deputy Court President, Kgosi Segametsi Pule at Urban Customary Court this week, Phenyo Moilwa (21) pleaded guilty to stealing a Samsung 03 Core phone belonging to Pako Mokgalo on May 23 around 0625hrs near Gaborone’s White City shops.
Allegedly, Mokgalo was on his way to the bus rank when Moilwa who was accompanied by a friend attacked him, demanding for his phone.
Apparently Moilwa took out a knife and pointed it towards him uttering “Tsisa phone ya gago! A o batla go gobalela phone e?” which loosely translates to “Bring your phone! Do you want to be harmed merely for this phone?”
Out of fear and in a bid to remain unharmed, Mokgalo gave the duo his phone before they fled the scene.
Later on he reported the matter to Urban Police Station and as the day unfolded Moilwa was arrested while his associate was not.
“Upon search, the accused was found in possession of the phone and when investigations unravelled , Mokgalo verified that the phone belonged to him,” Sub inspector Sue stated.
The police further asked for the phone to be returned to the owner since he indicated that it was still in good condition of which permission was granted.
Allegedly the accused entered court in possession of an okapi knife for his first mention, a case that was registered so that he accounts for such a deed.
For her part, Kgosi Pule told court that, “the accused is a heartless thief that steals from people using sharp objects such as a knife, however, he is still young therefore can be reformed.”
Despite desperately pleading to be punished with strokes on his bare buttocks, Kgosi ruled that he should serve a two-year sentence in jail.
“He should be segregated from the public because he is harmful. He will have time to reflect and introspect on the lifestyle he wants to lead going forward,” she added.
